Car-vestibule diaphragm.



H= H. SCHROYER.

OAR VESTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLIGATION FILED D20. 2s, 1907.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

H. H. SCHROYER.

GAR VBSTIBULE DIAPHRAGM.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.23, 1907.

903,893. 'Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

\ HARRY H. SCHBOYER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

cnn-vus'rrnunn nrnrmaaeia.

ANo. 903,893.

lSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17', 1908.

' Application ledi'lecember 23, 1907, Serial No. 407,730.

To all whom 'it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY H. SCHROYER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have inyented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Car-Vestbule Diaphragms; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Heretofore car vestibule diaphragme have been made frequently by connecting alternate edges of strips of rubber or cotton belt in or fabric to aiford accordion plaits. These usually have been permanently se-V cured to the vestibule face plate and to the diaphragm face plate. more accordion plaits have been used where the fabric strips are 5- or G inches wide to enable the face plates to be separated suiiiciently to permit'the insertion or repair of platform buffer springs should it be necessary. As a matter of fact the equalizers for the diaphragm face plate permit outward movement thereover only to the extent of about nine inches and in'consequencewhen it has been necessary to insert or repair platform buffer springsthe diaphragm is usually ripped lfrom the diaphragm face plate, frequently ruining the diaphragm. "Io ob viate this diiiiculty was the purpose of my prior invention for which U. S. Patent No. 7 68,77 5, was issued to me on the 30th dayof August, 1904,. and which is also shown embodied in this invention. The use of this device permits diaphragme consisting of but two accordion plaits or folds to be used, for these permit ample `movement of the diaphragm face plate even to its extreme limit of movement. l f

Diaphragme are often ruined by dirt and moisture lodging in the seams or folds tending to rot the diaphragm and sparks vfrom the locomotive lodging in the angle `are frequently fanned lto a blaze by the movenent of the car and the top of the diaphragm is thereby burned off.

The object-of this invention is to provide a diaphragm 1for the purpose specified adapted to afford ample movement lof the diaphragm faceplate relative the vestibule 'face plate and consisting of a minimum Inumber Usually three or tion on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

of folds or plaits and also provided "with means wherebythe leg of the diaphragm may be quickly detached from the dia.

.phragm face plate to permit the latter to be swung outward-ly a'ording accessl to the buffer platform for the purpose before eX- plained.

It is a further very important object of this invention to. afford a lining or outer cover for the top or top and legs of the diaphragm and which though attached to the plaits of the diaphragm is itself constructed Without plaits, and serves to exclude and shed moisture, dirt and sparks from the dia! phragm.

It is a further object of the invention to afford such a lining for the top of the dia-V phragm or for the top and the legs preferred, or both and the outer and the inner side of the diaphragm should it be desired and furthermore, to afford at the top of each diaphragm fold or plait a stifiening bow or arch to support the same on the top and to prevent sagging.

rIhe invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure l is a horizontal section taken through the diaphragm leg and covering or lining. Fig. 2 is a reduced vertical section thereof partly broken taken on line 2;-:2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view in which the lining or outer lcovering extends downwardly somewhat below the bend or joint between the top of the leg. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sec- Fig. 5 is a face view of the metallic binding strips whereby the diaphragm is secured to the face plate. Fig. 6 vis a fragmentary section on line 6--6 of Fig. I. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view vshowing one of the attaching studs for the leg binding strips of the diaphragm face plate.

In said drawings: A indicates a vestibule face plate and A the diaphragm face plate Which-are constructed as is usual or in any suitable manner. The diaphragm B comprises as shown, strips of fabric which are l folded. or 'p laited longitudinally at the middle as shown at b, to provide inwardly di" rected folds and 'the adjacent edges each st'apled, riveted or stitched together as shown 'in Figs.; and 4, and-the outer edges or maron widtlumay be used.

As shown, the lining or'covering fabric C comprises a sheet or strip of waterproof and preferably lire proof fabric or material'ota Width not much lgreater than the maximum' distance between the tace plates. This strip is stitched or otherwise secured to the central outer seam or plait b3' formed by the diaphragm. Preferably it is secured thereto at the saine time that adjacent edges ofthe diaphragm strips are connected. The margins of said lining or cover strip are secured to the face plate by the same means used to 4secure the margins of the diaplii'aginin place. Said covering strip need not, of

course, be used along the leg, but iii any event is provided over the top of the diaphragm and extends downwardly on each leg preferably below the joints of the top and the leg. I

A strip of sheet metal bent or folded lon gitudinally to U shape is secured over the outer seam or fold of the diaphragm and is stitched or riveted therethrough, as shown in Figa, rivets being employed. This bindf ing may, of course, ir" desired, extenddown the legs but this is not necessary inasmuch as the legs afford sulicient stiffness to maintain their shape or form vand support the weight of the top. Said metallic binding c is of great importance, however, as it aords an arch over 'the top of the diaphragm to f support the center from sagging.

ln attachingthe diaphragm to the vestihule face plates a light angle bar D is provided with apertures therethrough and is of a length to extend from below the joint betaf/veeny the leg and top to the bottom of the leg and lagl screws d are inserted there through and also pass through said outer lining C and the margin B of the diaphragm and firmly bind the same to the vestibule jace plate. Angle'bars B similarly perforated are normally held in'place by means of stud bolts rl, which are threaded into the diaphragm face plate, and which, as shown, have longitudinally slotted .heads adapted to receive a Cotter-pin d2, whereby said margin B2 of the diaphragm and the margin of the outer. lining are firmly engaged with the. diaphragm face plate yet can be quickly detached' by removing the cotter pins, permitting the plate to swing outwardly at the bottom. As shown on both face plates a strap of metal D2 which conforms to the top of k,the diaphragm is provided with apertures to receive lag screws, or other fastening means to firmly bind the scenes 4gin tgp ofi the diaphragm to the respectiveface p ates. y

The operation vis as follows: Fromfthe construction described the weight of the top of the diaphragm is carried to the legs, thus preventing any tendency whatever to sag- The outer lining' or covering C ai"- for s an independent hood for each fold ofv the diaphragm excluding moisture, `dirt and coals from the locomotiveor othersource from lodging in the folds of the diaphragm ands'aid outer lininor being water proof as well as fire-pioof, the diaphragm is thus j prevented from injury either from the weather orroni tire. .There being but two of `the accordion plaits usually instead of three, and vowing to the use of the cover or lining of the diaphragm and the stiiening strip c, the construction may be made of lighter material than heretofore though affording greater strength and consequently a cheaper and better construction is secured. 0f course, such alining may be it desired, extended down the leg on the outer side, as shown vin Fige l, `as well as over the top though ordinarily it is not necessary on the legs. 'Oi course, should it be preferred a corresponding lining may be secured on the inner side of the diaphragme, to cover the plaits around the top or around thetop and leg, as preferred.

Should it ever be necessary to partly ,de.

Atach the dia hragm face plate to afford access to the plat orm butler spring, it may very quickly be accomplished by removing the t cotter pin and swinging the bottom of the diaphragm face plate outwardly in which event the fabric ot the diaphragm serves as the hinge of the joint'betweenthe strap l)2 and the leg angle strips D. Having effected the desired adjustment, said angle bars are ico ics

again pressed back over the slotted stud bolts d", the Cotter pins inserted and the joint is thus again closed. The methods of securing the cover or lining strip of fabric or material around the diaphragm may vary as may 'also the construction oi" the metallic binding strips though-the economical construction shown answers every purpose admirably and atords an exceedingly .strong and durable diaphragm, the strongly supported top of which is protected from the weather and iis from tire, which soon destroy the ordinary -A ceases which the strips supporting the diaphragms are much narrower and more plaits are necessarily employed.

rUbviously many details of construction may be varied. l therefore do not purpose limiting this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

l claim as my invention:

l. A diaphragm of the class described having an outer Levering folded centrally to cover the outwardly directed seams of the diaphragm and extending across the outer ends of the diaphragm folds and attached to the face plates by means of the fastening means for the diaphragm.

Q. In a device ofthe class described strips of fabric having adjacent edges secured together forming a seam, a one piece covering folded around the seam with the ends stretched across the strips of fabric for protecting the same.

3. A diaphragm of the' class described having a one piece .narrow water and fire proof covering folded along the outwardly directed seams of the diaphragm at the top and sewed or riveted along the seam and attached with the ends of the diaphragm to the face plate by means of the fastening means for the diaphragm and an arched snpf port for the top of the diaphragm.

si. A diaphragm of the class ydescribed having a narrow unplaited Vcovering attached thereto along the outwardly directed seams of the diaphragm and over the top and attached therewith to the face plates, said covering constructed in one piecey and folded over the outwardly directed seam and the covering stretched over the diaphragm folds and sufficiently loose to allow for re'lative movement of the objects to which the end'svare attached, and an arched metallicv binding for the top seam'ivhich binds the covering and diaphragm and supporting the weight from the legs of the diaphragm.

A diaphragm of the class described comprising two strips of fabric each folded to provide a plait and the adjacent ends secured together, a relatively narrow unplaited outer covering attached along the outwardly directed seam formed by the adjacent ends of the diaphragm strips and at tached with the outer ends of the strips to the face plates by means of the fastening means for the diaphragm. A

6. A diaphragm of the class described comprising strips secured along alternate et ges to afford accordion plaits, a narrow, water and fire proof and unplaited covering attached thereto along the plaits or seams cf the diaphragms and attach-ed therewith to the face' plate, a suitable metallic binding for said tcp plaits and a strap of metal at the attaching ends of the top of the dia-v phragm conforming in shape with the face plates.

7. A diaphragm of the class described comprising strips of fabric having adjacent edges secured together at opposite sides of.

the strips and affording two accordion plaits, a strip of fabric stitched over the center seam with the margins' directed outwardly to coincide with the margins of the diaphragm and a stifening rib of sheet metal folded to U shape and engaged over the center seam or plait and covering and affording an arch to carry the weight of the top of the diaphragm.

8.v A diaphragm of the class describedl comprising strips of fabric having adjacent edges stitched together atopposite sides of the strips, and affording two accordion plaits, a. narrow'strip of fabric stitched over the outer center seam with the margin directed outwardly to coincide with the margins of the diaphragm, an arched stiffening rib of sheet ni'etal folded transversely to U shape and engaged over the seam and covering and adording an arch to carry the weight of the top of the diaphragm to the legs and detachable straps through which the legs of the diaphragm are secured to the diaphragm face plate.

9. ln a device of the class described a diaphragm consisting of two strips only, each folded and sewed or riveted at their folds, a protecting strip of fabric folded over the seam formed by the adjacent edges of the strips and sewed or riveted with said ends and the ends of the protective fabric extending over the strips, bars rigidly connecting the ends of the strips and covering together, means detachably securing one side of the diaphragm to the appropriate face plate and a strengthening and attaching strap secured' at each edge of the top of the diaphiagm.

10. In a diaphragm strips provided with one fold and affording one seam, a fire and moisture proof protective covering secured to the diaphragm at the seam with its ends extending nearlystraight across the folded strips, means for binding the outerI ends of the strips and the ends of the protective covering rigidly together and a metallic covering` secured to the diaphragm at the seam and adapting the legs of the diaph agm to support the weight of the top and prevent sagging thereof.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto subscribed my nainein the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' HARRY ll. SCHRDYER.

Witnesses C. W. Hints,

K. E. Har.' Nair. 

